Winter Roost-Site Selection by Seminole Bats in the Lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Winter Roost-Site Selection by Seminole Bats in the Lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina 2005 SOUTHEASTERN NATURALIST 4(3):473478 Winter Roost-site Selection by Seminole Bats in the Lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina Abstract - The winter roost-site selection of most North American foliage-roosting bats is relatively unknown. We examined winter roost-site selection of Seminole bats (Lasirrrus seminolus) in the Lower Coastal Plain of South Carolina during January 2004. Seminole bats used a variety of day-roost structures including the canopy of overstory hardwood trees, hanging vines, pine needle clusters suspended from understory vegetation, and leaf litter on the forest floor. Although reported for red bats (L. borealis), this is the first report of Seminole bats roosting in forest floor leaf litter. Winter roost selection differed from previous observations of summer roosts, which consisted almost exclusively of live overstory pine (Pinus spp.) trees. Roost-site selection in winter likely is related to ambient temperature and optimiz- ing exposure to solar radiation during the day. Management decisions in southeast- em forests should consider seasonal changes in roosting behavior to minimize adverse impacts on forest bats. Introduction Information on seasonal changes in roosting behavior of forest bats is lacking in the published literature. Many North American bat species mi- grate to warmer latitudes or hibernate in caves or human-made structures during winter. As a result, most bat research in temperate climates tradition- ally has been conducted during summer. Forest managers have relied heavily on summer data to create year-round management strategies for many bat populations. Although important, results from summer studies concerning roost-site selection may not apply in other seasons. Studies on roosting ecology of tree-roosting bats during summer indi- cate a selection for larger trees when compared to random structures (Crampton and Barclay 1998; Menzel et al. 1998, 2000; Vonhof and Barclay 1996). However, the limited research on winter roost selection suggests that many tree-roosting species alter roost-site selection during colder weather, presumably selecting locations with more suitable ther- mal conditions. Indiana bats, Myotis sodalis (Miller and Allen, 1928), which select snags as summer-day roosts, switch to mines and caves as winter hibernacula (Kurta and Rice 2002). Red bats, Lasiurus borealis (Miiller, 1776), typically roost in the foliage of hardwood trees during summer (Hutchinson and Lacki 2000, Menzel et al. 19981, but have been 'Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. Corresponding author - [email protected]. 474 Southeuslern Naturalist Vol. 3, No. 3 observed winter-roosting in deciduous leaf litter in five states: Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, South Carolina, and West Virginia (Boyles et al. 2003, Mager and Nelson 2001, Moorman et al. 1999, Rodrigue et al. 2001, Saugey et al. 1998), suggesting this to be common roosting strategy for this species (Boyles et al. 2003). The winter ecology of other foliage- roosting bats remains relatively unknown. We report here on observations of roosting habitat selection by Seminole bats, L. serninolus (Rhoads, 1895), in winter. Methods This study was conducted on property owned by the MeadWestvaco Corporation in Charleston, Colleton, and Dorchester Counties, SC. The study area is managed using MeadWestvaco's ecosystem-based forestry approach (G.C. Muckenfuss, MeadWestvaco Corp., pers. comm.). This system creates a landscape consisting of multiple age classes and timber types, both pine and hardwood, in various stages of succesional develop- ment, providing a diversity of habitats across MeadWestvaco's ownership. Bats were captured in January 2004 using mist-nets set over small ponds. We attached 0.43-g radio-transmitters (Biotrack, Ltd., Wareham, UK) to the back of Seminole bats using Skin Bond surgical adhesive (Smith and Nephew Products, Inc., Largo, FL). Transmitter load did not exceed 5% of the bats body mass (Aldridge and Brigham 1988). Day roosts were located daily using TRX 2000s receivers (Wildlife Materials, Inc., Carbondale, IL) and 3-element Yagi antennas. We calculated roost- ing home ranges by the Minimum Convex Polygon method using the Convex Hull Extension in ArcView (Jenness 2004). Ambient tempera- tures were recorded using HOBO data loggers (Onset Computer Corp., Bourne, MA). Results and Discussion We radio-tracked 3 male Seminole bats to 15 unique roost locations from 3 to 19 January 2004. Winter roost structures included the canopy of over- story hardwood trees (n = 5), hanging vines in the overstory (n = 2), Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides Linnaeus, 1762) in the overstory (n=l), pine needle clusters suspended from understory vegetation (n = 6), and pine leaf litter (n = I). Our results differ from previous reports of Seminole bat winter roosts. Conslantine (1958) reported Seminole bats winter-roosting exclu- sively in or on pendant clumps of Spanish moss in southwest Georgia. Jennings (1958) also collected Seminole bats in Spanish moss during winter months throughout Florida. We were able to detect a greater variety of roost structures using radio-telemetry than previous researcher that relied only on observational techniques. 2005 C.D. Hein, S.B. Castleberry, and K.V. Miller 475 Bats roosting in overstory hardwood trees were located near the top of the canopy on small branches near clusters of dead leaves, within Spanish moss, or on vines hanging from overstory branches. When observed roosting in the understory, Seminole bats typically roosted underneath clusters of pine needles that had fallen from overstory trees and had become suspended on low-hanging vines or branches of understory hardwood trees. The needles formed a roof-like mat over and surrounding the roosting bat. The single bat observed roosting on the forest floor was approximately 1 cm below the pine leaf litter. Canopy roosts typically were located near the edge of older, open mixed pine-hardwood stands, whereas roosts within pine needle clusters and pine leaf litter were located in the interior of young, dense loblolly pine stands. In comparison to winter-roosts observed in the present study, previous examinations of summer-roosts indicate that Seminole bats almost exclu- sively select for live overstory pine trees (Menzel et al. 1998, 1999, 2000). We observed similar roost-site selection in our study area during summer 2003, with all 49 Seminole bat day-roosts observed located in the canopy of live loblolly pines (C.D. Hein, unpubl. data). The observed changes in roost site selection between seasons likely are related to ambient temperature and optimizing exposure to solar radiation during the day. Lack of foliage on hardwood trees in winter may allow bats to maximize the amount of solar radiation received on warmer days. Differences in roosting home range between summer and winter also were evident. We compared the roosting areas for 3 male Seminole bats from summer 2003 and 3 male Seminole bats from winter 2004. Although sample sizes were small, winter roosting area is noticeably larger when compared to the roosting area used in summer. The mean area was 0.62 ha (SE + 0.16, range 0.43-0.95 ha) in summer and 23.02 ha (SE + 12.61, range 3.3246.52 ha) in winter. During winter, bats may require larger areas to acquire the resources they need. Roost locations in winter, for a given bat, were ob- served in various habitat types across the landscape (i.e., older hardwood stands and young pine stands) compared to summer roosts which were generally located within the same pine stand. Seminole bats selected roosts in the canopy of large overstory hard- wood trees and in vines on nights with a minimum nightly temperature greater than 10 "C. Generally, as minimum nightly temperature dropped below 10 "C, bats selected roosts that provided additional shelter. During the coldest period of the study, when minimum nightly temperatures ranged from 3.7 "C to -6.8 "C, two of the three bats selected roosts on or near the forest floor. One male was tracked to a pine needle cluster hanging 0.5 m off the forest floor, and a second male was observed roosting within the pine leaf litter. This leaf litter roost was located ap- proximately 140 m away from the previous roost site. The third bat was 476 Southeastern Naturalist Vol. 4, No. 3 observed roosting in the canopy of an overstory hardwood tree within a clump of Spanish moss. Roost sites close to and on the forest floor offer warmer ambient temperatures and protection from wind during the cold- est winter periods. Results from winter studies involving Three-toed Box Turtles, Terrapene carolina triunguis Agassiz, 1857 (Reagan 1974) and ground beetles (Idam and Pedigo 2000) showed the importance of a buff- ering habitat (i.e., leaf litter) in the survival of over-wintering animals by avoiding extreme temperature fluctuations during colder months. When implementing management practices typically conducted in win- ter, managers should consider seasonal differences in roosting behavior of forest bats. The use of understory trees and leaf litter as roosts in winter suggests that prescribed fire, a common forestry/wildlife management technique in southern forests (Carter et al. 2002), may adversely affect bat populations. Several studies have reported bats being driven from leaf litter roosts during prescribcd burns (Moorman et al. 1999, Rodrigue et al. 2001). Many bat species have a low tolerance for roost disturbance. Such disturbance expends critical winter fat stores (Trani 2002) and increases vulnerability to daytime predators (Carter et al. 2002). Winter burns also may result in direct mortality of torpid bats roosting on or near the ground (Harvey and Saugey 2001). In winter, many bats hibernate or enter pro- longed periods of inactivity. Bats may take up to 30 minutes to arouse from such states (Thomas et al. 1990), making it difficult to reach a body temperature and activity level sufficient to escape fire (Carter et al. 2002). However, the relationship between temperature and roost site selection may be useful in planning prescribed burns to avoid times when bats are most vulnerable.
Recommended publications
  • Bat Conservation 2021
    Bat Conservation Global evidence for the effects of interventions 2021 Edition Anna Berthinussen, Olivia C. Richardson & John D. Altringham Conservation Evidence Series Synopses 2 © 2021 William J. Sutherland This document should be cited as: Berthinussen, A., Richardson O.C. and Altringham J.D. (2021) Bat Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions. Conservation Evidence Series Synopses. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. Cover image: Leucistic lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros hibernating in a former water mill, Wales, UK. Credit: Thomas Kitching Digital material and resources associated with this synopsis are available at https://www.conservationevidence.com/ 3 Contents Advisory Board.................................................................................... 11 About the authors ............................................................................... 12 Acknowledgements ............................................................................. 13 1. About this book ........................................................... 14 1.1 The Conservation Evidence project ................................................................................. 14 1.2 The purpose of Conservation Evidence synopses ............................................................ 14 1.3 Who this synopsis is for ................................................................................................... 15 1.4 Background .....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bat Echolocation Research a Handbook for Planning and Conducting Acoustic Studies Second Edition
    Bat Echolocation Research A handbook for planning and conducting acoustic studies Second Edition Erin E. Fraser, Alexander Silvis, R. Mark Brigham, and Zenon J. Czenze EDITORS Bat Echolocation Research A handbook for planning and conducting acoustic studies Second Edition Editors Erin E. Fraser, Alexander Silvis, R. Mark Brigham, and Zenon J. Czenze Citation Fraser et al., eds. 2020. Bat Echolocation Research: A handbook for planning and conducting acoustic studies. Second Edition. Bat Conservation International. Austin, Texas, USA. Tucson, Arizona 2020 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License ii Table of Contents Table of Figures ....................................................................................................................................................................... vi Table of Tables ........................................................................................................................................................................ vii Contributing Authors .......................................................................................................................................................... viii Dedication…… .......................................................................................................................................................................... xi Foreword…….. ..........................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Roost Characteristics and Clustering Behavior of Western Red Bats (Lasiurus Blossevillii) in Southwestern New Mexico
    Western North American Naturalist Volume 78 Number 2 Article 7 7-19-2018 Roost characteristics and clustering behavior of western red bats (Lasiurus blossevillii) in southwestern New Mexico Brett R. Andersen Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE, [email protected] Keith Geluso Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan Recommended Citation Andersen, Brett R. and Geluso, Keith (2018) "Roost characteristics and clustering behavior of western red bats (Lasiurus blossevillii) in southwestern New Mexico," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 78 : No. 2 , Article 7. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol78/iss2/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Western North American Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Western North American Naturalist 78(2), © 2018, pp. 174–183 Roost characteristics and clustering behavior of western red bats (Lasiurus blossevillii) in southwestern New Mexico BRETT R. ANDERSEN1,* AND KEITH GELUSO1 1Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE 68849 ABSTRACT.—The western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii) is a foliage-roosting species of riparian habitats in arid regions of the southwestern United States. Only limited published anecdotal observations exist for roost sites used by this species. Western red bats were split taxonomically from the eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) in 1988, but summaries of roosting behaviors for western red bats still appear to stem from former associations with the commonly studied eastern red bat.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation and Management of Eastern Big-Eared Bats a Symposium
    Conservation and Management of Eastern Big-eared Bats A Symposium y Edited b Susan C. Loeb, Michael J. Lacki, and Darren A. Miller U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Research Station General Technical Report SRS-145 DISCLAIMER The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service. Papers published in these proceedings were submitted by authors in electronic media. Some editing was done to ensure a consistent format. Authors are responsible for content and accuracy of their individual papers and the quality of illustrative materials. Cover photos: Large photo: Craig W. Stihler; small left photo: Joseph S. Johnson; small middle photo: Craig W. Stihler; small right photo: Matthew J. Clement. December 2011 Southern Research Station 200 W.T. Weaver Blvd. Asheville, NC 28804 Conservation and Management of Eastern Big-eared Bats: A Symposium Athens, Georgia March 9–10, 2010 Edited by: Susan C. Loeb U.S Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Research Station Michael J. Lacki University of Kentucky Darren A. Miller Weyerhaeuser NR Company Sponsored by: Forest Service Bat Conservation International National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Offield Family Foundation ContEntS Preface . v Conservation and Management of Eastern Big-Eared Bats: An Introduction . 1 Susan C. Loeb, Michael J. Lacki, and Darren A. Miller Distribution and Status of Eastern Big-eared Bats (Corynorhinus Spp .) . 13 Mylea L. Bayless, Mary Kay Clark, Richard C. Stark, Barbara S.
    [Show full text]
  • (RVS) Raccoon, Fox, Skunk
    Most Common Bats in So MD Little Brown Bat, Evening Bat, Red Bat, Big Brown Bat Little Brown Bat 4 – 9 g body weight 3 1/8 – 3 7/8” length 9 - 11” wing span 10 – 30 year lifespan Single bat catches up to 600 mosquitoes per hour Long, glossy dark fur, long hairs on hind feet extend beyond tips of claws. Face, ears, and wing membranes are dark brown Mate late August – November, sperm stored until spring, one pup born May or June after 60 day gestation Pup weighs up to 30% of mother’s weight which is like a 120 lb woman giving birth to a 36 lb baby Pups hang onto mom for 3 – 4 days, even during feeding. Pups capable of flight at 18 days and adult size at 3 weeks Evening Bat 6 - 13 g body weight 3 – 3 7/8” length 10 - 11” wing span 2 – 5 year lifespan Colony of 300 Evening Bats will consume 6.3 million insects per summer Fur is short, dull brown, belly paler. Ears/wing membranes blackish brown Average of 2 pups born late May or early June. Born pink and hairless with eyes closed. Capable of flight within 20 days and nearly adult sized at 4 weeks. Weaned at 6 – 9 weeks Red Bat 9 - 15 g body weight 3.75 - 5” length 11 - 13” wing span 32 teeth/40mph flight Bright orange to brick red angora-like fur often with frosted appearance (females more frosted than males), white shoulder patches. Heavily furred tail membrane. Females have 4 nipples unlike most bats with 2 Mating season Aug – Sept, sperm stored until following spring (April-May).
    [Show full text]
  • An Analysis of Population Structuring in the Eastern Red Bat (Lasiuras Borealis) Using the Mitochondrial D-Loop
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Supervised Undergraduate Student Research Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects and Creative Work 5-2001 An Analysis of Population Structuring in the Eastern Red Bat (Lasiuras Borealis) Using the Mitochondrial D-loop Julie Rose Hermann University of Tennessee-Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_chanhonoproj Recommended Citation Hermann, Julie Rose, "An Analysis of Population Structuring in the Eastern Red Bat (Lasiuras Borealis) Using the Mitochondrial D-loop" (2001). Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_chanhonoproj/467 This is brought to you for free and open access by the Supervised Undergraduate Student Research and Creative Work at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM SENIOR PROJECT - APPROV AL Name: :JUlie.. Humann College: Ar!b~ &:, ence.:S Faculty Mentor: qart1 Me ['.rae ;t.eYI PROJECT TITLE: Ao tlM',tYei5 Qf- PQf2~~tiaJ Snva.b..l.CLY'GJ jo...~~a. ~P&ci Uo..+ (Lo:;iUCV5- bo~~') \ri~ Jar tlfrmc.bcod.ocd b-1ocp I have reviewed this completed senior honors thesis with this student and certify that it is a project commensurate with honors level undergraduate research in this field. Signed: G~SVVl ukL , Faculty Mentor ~ ~ Date: m~1 q 'LO 0 ) r I Comments (Optional): AN ANALYSIS OF POPULATION STRUCTURING IN THE EASTERN RED BAT (LASIURUS BOREALIS) USING THE MITOCHONDRIAL D-LOOP Julie Hermann May 2001 Faculty Mentor: Gary McCracken ABSTRACT: Very little is known about the migration patterns of the eastern red bat, Lasiurus borealis.
    [Show full text]
  • Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus Infections
    Prepared by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus Infections Circular 1329 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Front cover photo (D.G. Constantine) A Townsend’s big-eared bat. Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus Infections By Denny G. Constantine Edited by David S. Blehert Circular 1329 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2009 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Constantine, D.G., 2009, Bat rabies and other lyssavirus infections: Reston, Va., U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1329, 68 p. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Constantine, Denny G., 1925– Bat rabies and other lyssavirus infections / by Denny G. Constantine. p. cm. - - (Geological circular ; 1329) ISBN 978–1–4113–2259–2 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Index of Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 9. Bats
    Index of Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Vol. 9. Bats A agnella, Kerivoula 901 Anchieta’s Bat 814 aquilus, Glischropus 763 Aba Leaf-nosed Bat 247 aladdin, Pipistrellus pipistrellus 771 Anchieta’s Broad-faced Fruit Bat 94 aquilus, Platyrrhinus 567 Aba Roundleaf Bat 247 alascensis, Myotis lucifugus 927 Anchieta’s Pipistrelle 814 Arabian Barbastelle 861 abae, Hipposideros 247 alaschanicus, Hypsugo 810 anchietae, Plerotes 94 Arabian Horseshoe Bat 296 abae, Rhinolophus fumigatus 290 Alashanian Pipistrelle 810 ancricola, Myotis 957 Arabian Mouse-tailed Bat 164, 170, 176 abbotti, Myotis hasseltii 970 alba, Ectophylla 466, 480, 569 Andaman Horseshoe Bat 314 Arabian Pipistrelle 810 abditum, Megaderma spasma 191 albatus, Myopterus daubentonii 663 Andaman Intermediate Horseshoe Arabian Trident Bat 229 Abo Bat 725, 832 Alberico’s Broad-nosed Bat 565 Bat 321 Arabian Trident Leaf-nosed Bat 229 Abo Butterfly Bat 725, 832 albericoi, Platyrrhinus 565 andamanensis, Rhinolophus 321 arabica, Asellia 229 abramus, Pipistrellus 777 albescens, Myotis 940 Andean Fruit Bat 547 arabicus, Hypsugo 810 abrasus, Cynomops 604, 640 albicollis, Megaerops 64 Andersen’s Bare-backed Fruit Bat 109 arabicus, Rousettus aegyptiacus 87 Abruzzi’s Wrinkle-lipped Bat 645 albipinnis, Taphozous longimanus 353 Andersen’s Flying Fox 158 arabium, Rhinopoma cystops 176 Abyssinian Horseshoe Bat 290 albiventer, Nyctimene 36, 118 Andersen’s Fruit-eating Bat 578 Arafura Large-footed Bat 969 Acerodon albiventris, Noctilio 405, 411 Andersen’s Leaf-nosed Bat 254 Arata Yellow-shouldered Bat 543 Sulawesi 134 albofuscus, Scotoecus 762 Andersen’s Little Fruit-eating Bat 578 Arata-Thomas Yellow-shouldered Talaud 134 alboguttata, Glauconycteris 833 Andersen’s Naked-backed Fruit Bat 109 Bat 543 Acerodon 134 albus, Diclidurus 339, 367 Andersen’s Roundleaf Bat 254 aratathomasi, Sturnira 543 Acerodon mackloti (see A.
    [Show full text]
  • Bats of the Savannah River Site and Vicinity
    United States Department of Agriculture Bats of the Forest Service Savannah River Site and Vicinity Southern Research Station Michael A. Menzel, Jennifer M. Menzel, John C. Kilgo, General Technical Report SRS-68 W. Mark Ford, Timothy C. Carter, and John W. Edwards Authors: Michael A. Menzel,1 Jennifer M. Menzel,2 John C. Kilgo,3 W. Mark Ford,2 Timothy C. Carter,4 and John W. Edwards5 1Graduate Research Assistant, Division of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506; 2Research Wildlife Biologist, Northeastern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Parsons, WV 26287; 3Research Wildlife Biologist, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, New Ellenton, SC 29809; 4Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; and 5Assistant Professor, Division of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, respectively. Cover photos: Clockwise from top left: big brown bats (photo by John MacGregor); Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (photo by John MacGregor); eastern red bat (photo by John MacGregor); and eastern red bat (photo by Julie Roberge). September 2003 Southern Research Station P.O. Box 2680 Asheville, NC 28802 Bats of the Savannah River Site and Vicinity Michael A. Menzel, Jennifer M. Menzel, John C. Kilgo, W. Mark Ford, Timothy C. Carter, and John W. Edwards Abstract The U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site supports a diverse bat community. Nine species occur there regularly, including the eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus), southeastern myotis (Myotis austroriparius), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), Seminole bat (L.
    [Show full text]
  • Chiropterology Division BC Arizona Trial Event 1 1. DESCRIPTION: Participants Will Be Assessed on Their Knowledge of Bats, With
    Chiropterology Division BC Arizona Trial Event 1. DESCRIPTION: Participants will be assessed on their knowledge of bats, with an emphasis on North American Bats, South American Microbats, and African MegaBats. A TEAM OF UP TO: 2 APPROXIMATE TIME: 50 minutes 2. EVENT PARAMETERS: a. Each team may bring one 2” or smaller three-ring binder, as measured by the interior diameter of the rings, containing information in any form and from any source. Sheet protectors, lamination, tabs and labels are permitted in the binder. b. If the event features a rotation through a series of stations where the participants interact with samples, specimens or displays; no material may be removed from the binder throughout the event. c. In addition to the binder, each team may bring one unmodified and unannotated copy of either the National Bat List or an Official State Bat list which does not have to be secured in the binder. 3. THE COMPETITION: a. The competition may be run as timed stations and/or as timed slides/PowerPoint presentation. b. Specimens/Pictures will be lettered or numbered at each station. The event may include preserved specimens, skeletal material, and slides or pictures of specimens. c. Each team will be given an answer sheet on which they will record answers to each question. d. No more than 50% of the competition will require giving common or scientific names. e. Participants should be able to do a basic identification to the level indicated on the Official List. States may have a modified or regional list. See your state website.
    [Show full text]
  • Washington, D.C. Bat Species List
    Washington, D.C. Bat Species List Washington D.C.’s bats are divided into two main groups based on their roosting habits- “cave bats” and “tree bats.” “Cave bats” hibernate in caves during the winter and usually form colonies to roost and raise their pups during the summer. These colonies can be found in tree cavities, buildings, or other human-made structures. “Tree bats” tend to be solitary and roost under pieces of bark or in small groups. Tree bats often forage in the upper forest canopy and migrate long distances during the spring and fall. Washington, D.C.’s Cave Bats Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) Big brown bats are ubiquitous throughout the United States and are found in both cities and rural environments. They usually form maternity colonies under loose bark and within small tree cavities. Other maternity roosts are commonly found in buildings and barns and under bridges. Big brown bats are a highly adaptable bat species that can relocate to human-made structures in response to increasing levels of habitat loss. They can also tolerate cooler (Photo Credit: Paul and Joyce Berquist) temperatures than other bat species, allowing them to roost in less insulated structures. Big brown bats are insectivorous and are specialized to prey upon beetles, but they will also consume other insects such as moths, ants, wasps, and flies. In Washington, D.C., big brown bats are one of the more likely species to form a colony inside of a home and are commonly observed foraging at dusk. Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) White-Nose Syndrome has decimated populations of little brown bats in Washington, D.C., and they are expected to become extirpated within the next few decades.
    [Show full text]
  • Maryland's Bats Calvert County Big Brown
    Maryland’s Bats Calvert County Bat Survey 2020 Big Brown Bat – Eptesicus fuscus Larger than other brown bats. Yellowish brown glossy fur. Tail tip extends past skin membrane. Ears are broad and rounded and facial skin dark. Emerges a half hour after sunset, commonly roosts in barns and houses. Becomes active with temperature change and may be flying about mid-winter on warm days. Found in a variety of habitats. Evening Bat – Nycticeius humeralis Velvety brown fur, rounded oval-shaped ears with broad tragus. Facial skin dark. Smaller than Big Brown Bat. Flies slowly and steadily over fields and open areas when hunting. May migrate out of northern range in winters, but poorly known. Northern Myotis – Myotis septentrionalis Very long, pointed tragus. Long ears, yellow to brown fur on back. Pink facial skin around eyes and base of ears. Hunts in upland forests and dear understory vegetation. Found mostly in wooded areas. Hibernates in caves through winter. Little Brown Myotis – Myotis lucifugus Tragus straight, narrow, but not sharply pointed. Dark brown to blackish skin on snout and ears. Fur glossy, usually yellow-brown above, belly buff-yellow to gray- white. Emerges at or after dusk. Typically found near wetlands. Hibernates in caves for 4-6 months in winter. Becomes active again in spring. Eastern Small-footed Myotis – Myotis leibii Rare* Smallest eastern Myotis. Tragus narrow and pointed, black wings and facial skin, fluffy fur yellowish above, cream on belly. Emerges at dusk to feed, begins hibernation later than other Myotis species. Silver-haired Bat – Lasionycteris noctivagans Black fur with frosted tips.
    [Show full text]